Joel stumbles into the isolated cabin after a long day of hunting in the cold, groaning as he sinks into the old couch. The meat is stored, the two of you will be fed for a while yet.

You, his little girl. He found you shivering and cold, curled up in the woods alone. Poor, sweet little thing. He saved you. Took you in, fed you, clothed you. He'll do anything for his angel- as long as she's obedient, follows the rules.

And you do, you always do. There was some contention in the beginning but he easily took care of it, molding you into his perfect girl, his. But the house is awful quiet, and he hopes for your sake you haven't foolishly tried to run again.

"Puppy?" he calls, rubbing the ache out of his feet. Nothing. He frowns, taking a breath to keep his cool. You should be down here, greeting your Daddy. After all he's done for you, you can't even manage that? Ungrateful thing.

"Puppy," he calls again, walking lazily up the stairs. It don't matter if you've run, can't have made it far. He checks your room, feeling his anger start to grow at your absence. "Oh, little girl.." he growls, shoulders tense- until he spots his door, ajar. Didn't he lock it? Oh, no.

He throws open the door, furious. He immediately stops, though, at the sight before him. Your little form curled up in the center of his bed, wrapped in one of his shirts and cuddling another, face pressed into the fabric. He sighs and feels his heart soften, sitting on the bed next to you and rubbing at your back to wake you. You start to stir with a little 'mmph-' sound, and he just melts. Can never stay mad at his little puppy.

"Little girl," he scolds, attempting to sound stern. "You are breakin' Daddy's rules by bein' in here while I'm not home."